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Healthy Buildings l

Important information

Vocational qualification

Distance learning

100 hours of class

When:Flexible

Description

Learn to design optimally effective buildings for life! Develops skills to determine the impact of building construction characteristics upon human health, and to recommend innovations in building design to improve habitability. It covers building materials, construction techniques, electrical wiring, temperature and light control, ventilation, plumbing, ergonomics, and psychological factors.None

Explain the concept of healthy buildings including its relevance to human health.
Select building materials which are safe to human health.
Evaluate the health impact of different building techniques, including construction and design.
Explain how the way in which services are installed, can impact upon the health of people using a building.
Explain how building design can impact upon the quality of the physical environment inside.
Explain ergonomic considerations in building design.
Explain psychological considerations in building design.

Practicals:

Explain the concept of building biology, in accordance with the international building biology institute.
Explain the history of building biology institutes, in Germany, America, and New Zealand; with relevance to Australia.
Explain the current status of bio-harmonic architectural practices in Australia.
Assess problems with different dangerous building materials including:
Asbestos
Plastics
Insulation materials
Treated pine.
Compare characteristics of different commonly used building materials, including:
Rate of deterioration
Thermal qualities
Chemical properties
Acoustic qualities
Dust collection/repellence
Light reflection.
Develop a checklist, for evaluating the health impact of different building materials.
Evaluate the impact of different building materials on health, in a building inspected by you.
Develop a checklist of building design factors, to assess the affect of design on human health.
Develop a checklist of building construction factors (other than materials) which may impact upon human health.
Explain how design can impact upon different aspects of the internal environment, including:
Thermal comfort
Light intensity
Humidity
Condensation
Acoustics
Control of pests
Noise insulation.
Study two specific buildings and compare the impact of building techniques, including construction and design, upon human health.
Explain the impact of electric fields on human health in a building you inspect.
Explain how electrical fields can be minimised by the way in which electric wires are laid in a specific house plan.
Compare differences upon the impact on health from different power supplies including:
Mains power
Self generated systems
Different voltages.
Compare the potential impact on health, of different waste disposal systems including:
Chemical treatments
Reed beds
Settling ponds
Combustion systems
Land fill.
Explain potential impact of different water supply systems on human health, including:
Mains water
Ground water
Different types of rain water tanks.
Explain possible impacts of gas supply systems on human health including:
Mains gas
Bottle gas
Self generated bio gas.
Compare the impact of different types of artificial light sources on human health, including:
Electric light
Combustion systems.
Compare the impact of different types of heating systems on human health.
List ways temperature can be controlled inside a building by design.
Explain health impacts of air conditioning in a building you select and study.
List ways acoustics can be controlled, by building design.
List ways light can be controlled, through building design.
List ways ventilation can be controlled, by building design.
Explain solar energy applications in a specified building.
Evaluate the impact of the design of a building you select and study on the interior environment.
Redesign a building from a specified building plan, to improve the quality of the physical environment inside.
Evaluate the heights of three different kitchen benches for ergonomic suitability to the people who are primary users of those benches.
Explain the importance of clear and easy access into and through the building for all users, including the disabled.
Explain health aspects of the relationship between the human body and the interior of a specific building.
Explain the affect that four different colours may have on human health.
Explain the affect of space perceptions may have on human health, in a visited interior workplace.
Evaluate the psychological impact of the interior environment in two distinctly different offices, upon the people who work in each of those offices.